With your help, our neighbors will be warm this season.
The annual Steve’s Coats for Kids coat collection drive is underway, and it’s an easy and meaningful way to help families who may be struggling to keep their children warm. As pretty as winter can be, with snow and holiday lights, the colder temperatures bring increased utility costs. Added heating and shorter hours of actual daylight mean higher utility bills. The shorter winter days mean children are waiting at bus stops during the coldest, darkest part of the morning, and sometimes walking home after the sun sets.
Post-pandemic inflation has added at least 11% to consumer goods. Even for the best of planners, and particularly for low-income wage earners, the added cost of coats can destroy a budget.
Bring your gently used or new coats to collection day at WSOC-TV studio at 235 W. 23rd Street in Charlotte anytime from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Dec. 7.
Bonus: Steve Udelson will be on-site during the collection times!
You can help.
Steve’s Coats for Kids welcomes new or gently used coats of all sizes, from children’s sizes up to adult sizes, and the coats that are collected in Charlotte-Mecklenburg will be added to the Crisis Assistance Ministry Free Store or distributed to our countywide Partner Agencies to provide to their clients.
Anyone can participate by collecting and donating coats during Steve’s Coats for Kids, and there are several ways to become involved in this community effort.
- Bring your gently used or new coats to collection day at WSOC-TV studio at 235 W. 23rd Street in Charlotte anytime from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Dec. 7. The coats will return to Crisis Assistance Ministry, where we will add them to our Free Store or share them with our Partner Agency network. Bonus: Steve Udelson will be on site during the collection times!
- Use this donation location map to find sites where you can drop off coats that will be used in your community. These sites include WSOC-TV Family Focus partners Arby’s, Ashley HomeStore, and the Charlotte Fire Department, as well as ERA Live Moore Real Estate and Carter Bank Trust.
- Find a way to get involved. Steve’s Coats for Kids will continue through Dec. 31, and WSOC has ideas on getting your family and friends organized and involved.
- Start a drive. Steve’s Coats for Kids is partnering with One Warm Coat to empower everyone to hold their own coat drives.
Other ways you can help:
Donate New or Gently Used Coats
- Bring your new or gently used coats directly to Crisis Assistance Ministry. Our donation drive-thru is open Tuesday through Saturday for convenient drop off of all types of clothing donations.
- Be sure to check your closets for gently used coats and other winter gear that might help someone else get through the colder months.
- Grab extra cold-weather gear – coat, hat, ear muffs, or pairs of mittens or gloves – when you are out shopping. All sizes and genders are needed from infant to adult.
Hop Online and “Point.Click.Ship” Directly to Crisis Assistance Ministry
- Our Winter Wish List allows you to shop online and ship coats directly to Crisis Assistance Ministry.
- All sizes, genders, and color combinations are welcomed. Coats with hoods are especially good for children.